Tempodrom

The Tempodrom in Berlin hosts everything from opera choirs and comedians to compères and circus artists. Concerts, musicals, shows and conferences dominate the packed schedule under the imposing concrete and glass roof that looks like a circus tent.

Helge Schneider, Dieter Nuhr, the Pet Shop Boys and the Chippendales are only some of the many stars who entertain you here. The Tempodrom holds around 180 events a year – or if you like, there’s something on here every other day, and more than 350,000 visitors a year bear witness to that. It gets particularly full at Christmas, when the Tempodrom hosts the Roncalli Christmas Circus, and tickets to Holiday On Ice in the spring are also in great demand.

From a tent to an architectural wonder

The new Tempodrom building at the Anhalter Bahnhof is one of the boldest buildings of recent years. The Tempodrom was founded on 1 May 1980, initially as a small circus tent on Potsdamer Platz, when Irene Moessinger spent her inheritance to realise a lifelong dream. It then moved to the Tiergarten and became famous for its concert and theatre programmes, characterised by an imaginative mix of genres. In particular, the Heimatklänge attracted large numbers of visitors every year. When Germany’s government moved to Berlin in the 1990s, the Tempodrom had to make way for the new buildings. While the new Tempodrom was being constructed, the tent moved to a temporary site near Ostbahnhof from 1999 to 2001.

The new building at Anhalter Bahnhof echoes the tent shape of the original Tempodrom, with a white, reinforced concrete roof structure reminiscent of the bold expressionist architecture of the 1920s. Inside, under the big top, there are two arenas, where events of all kinds are held, including concerts, theatre, revues, shows, circuses and sports.

Music under water

Shortly afterwards, the Liquidrom moved into the building. It has numerous saunas and a relaxation zone where you can relax and rejuvenate. You can also enjoy the sensation of floating in salt water to ambient underwater sounds.

Getting to the Tempodrom

To get to the show or the concert, you get off at Anhalter Bahnhof (S-Bahn) or Möckernbrücke (U-Bahn). If you’re in the car, there is a paid car park at the Martin-Gropius-Bau, and multi-storey car parks at Gleisdreieck and Potsdamer Platz. From there, it’s a few minutes’ walk to the Tempodrom.

Tickets